Annealing-furnace.



PATBNTBD JUNE 9, 1903.

H. L. THOMPSON. ANNEALING FURNAGE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1905.

UNITED sTA'rEsrnjrnNT onirica.

I HUGH L. THOMPSON, UF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT'.

ANNEALING-FURNACE.

To all whom it may/'concern' Be it known that I, HUGH L. '.lIIoMrsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waterbury, in the county of New Ilaven, State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Anncaling-Furnace, of which the lfollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to anl'iealing furnaces in which the oxidizing atmosphere is excluded from the metal during treatment and until thc same has been cooled.

My object is to provide improved means for delivering the metal to the furnace retort without admitting the oxidizing atmosphere thereto.

My invention comprises an annealing retort and a mechanical air lock through which the material is charged into the retort. T his air lock or preliminaryr charging member is adapted to be opened to the retort after the oxidizing atmosphere has been exhausted from the said chamber. A

My invention also includes improved means for opening and closing communication between said preliminary charging chamber and the retort, and also for opening and closing said preliminary chamber to the outside atmosphere.

My invention also includes means for delivering the metal from the preliminary chamber to the retort and automatic means for coupling up the various operating mechanisms.

The specific device herein described ises-` peeially adapted for the annealing of coils of right metal Wire, but my invention is of course equally adapted for treating .other forms of metal. f

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of an annealing furnace showing my improved mechanism. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in vertical seetion showing with more detail t-he gate or valve operating between the preliminary` Patented June 9, 1908.

Serial No. 261,341.

end to end of said retort and entirely inclosed therein. At the receiving end of the retort 1 is provided the preliminary charging chamber having conveyer 6 extending from end to end thereof. Comn'mnication between chamber 5 and retort 1 is opened and closed b Y the vertically moving valve or gate 7 While the opening to the outside atmosphere is controlled by the valve or gate 8. Gates 7 and 8 are operated by the vertical piston rods 9 and 1() connected with the pistons 11 and 12 operating in cylinders 13 and 14. These pistons are preferably operated by the introduction of compressed air into said cylinders 13 and 14. The usual admission and exhaust valves are employed in this connection, but are not shown in the drawings. The eonveyer G is operated 'by suitable gearing connected with' pulley 15 see. Fig. 2 driven by motor 16 from source of energy 17 controlled by the switches 18 and 19. The pipe 2() is adapted to introduce steam, gas or other non-oxidizing agent int-o the preliminary charging chamber 5, whilel pipe 21 is adapted to carry oll' the oxidizing atmosphere expelled from said chamber. The coupling oll these various mechanisms is accomplished in the following way: Upon rod 10 is provided the lug or nutl." which is adapted to engage one end of rocking lever 23 to hold the same in the position shown in Fig. 1, when the gate 8 is closed. This rocking lever has pivotally secured at its other end the connecting rod 24 which in turn is secured to the bolt 25 which is adapted to engage with the nut or lug 26 on rod 9 to prevent the opening of gate 7. 1V hen the gate 8 is closed this bolt 25 is withdrawn from engagement with lug 26 so as to permit the o ening of gate 7. When however rod 10 is e evated to open gate 8 lug 22 is raised to ernnt the outward movement of rocking ever 23 in response to the tension of spring In Fig. 1 these valves are shown in the open position to permit the entering of steam, gas or other non-oxidizin a ent and the exit of air from chamber 5. gWien, however rod 10 is elevated to open` gate 8 these valves are closed by the operation of lug 29 upon bell crank 30. f

When the inetalhas been charged into the preliminary chamber 5 the reverse movement of rod 10 takes place to close gate 8.

This obviously causes the opposite actua tion of the valves 31 and'34 and of the bolt 25 so that chamber 5 will now be exhausted of oxidizing atmosphere and the gate 7 will be permitted to open. B introducing aii` into the lower part of cylin er 13 the rod 9 is elevated to cause the opening of gate 7. By the withdrawal of lug 35 from the free end of rocking lever 36 the bolt 37 is moved by spring 38 to intercept lug.39 to lock gateS against opening. At the saine time lug 40 encounters the lower end of switch 19 to close the circuit of motor 16 to operate conveyer 6 to carry the metal 41 to conveyer 4 in retort 1. It will be obvious that the reverse movement of rod 9Y to close gate 7, will open the circuit of the motor to stop conve er 6 and will then Withdraw bolt 37 to un ook ate 8.

It wil thus be seen that by the mechanism above described the gate 7 cannot be opened while gate 8 is open, nor can gate 8 be opened while gate 7 is open. The closing of gate 8 opens the valves for the admission of nonoxidizing agent and the escape of oxidizing atmosphere, while the opening of said gate closes said valves, and the opening of gate 7 starts the conveyer 6 While the closing of gate 7 stops conveyer 6.

In order to make the closure of the intake end of the retort by gate 7 substantially air tight, the following construction may be employed as shown in Fig. 2. The rod 9 is packed in the usual way as at 42. The cooperating faces 43 and 44 of gate 7 and adljoining wall are suitably milled or ground to make as perfect a fit as practicable. A slight play is erinitted between gate 7 and channel 45, t ie co eration of tlieground faces being aided y the slight pressure maintained in retort 1. The extension 46 of the channel 45 below the lower end of gate 7 is provided for accumulation of dirt or other su stances, which may from time to time be blown out by steam or other suitable means.

The inclined conveyer 47 may be provided extending from beneath the opening of discharge end 2 to receive the metal coils and carry them out of tank 3.

It will of course be understood that the construction f the gates 7 and 8 will be in accordance with the usual furnace construction practice as to heat resisting characteristics.

My device is especially useful in the' annealin of metals which it is not desirable to pass t rough a liquid before entering the retort. l

What I claim is 1. In combination with an annealing furnace, a chamber adapted to communicate lwith the furnace, means for opening and closing communication between the chamber andfurnace, means for opening and closing said chamber to the outside atmosphere and means for `displacing the oxidizing atmosp'here in ,the chamber by a non -oxidizing agent before opening it tothe furnace.

2. In an annealing furnace, the combination of a retort and a preliminary charging chamber therefor, provided with, movable gates and an air exit and means for introducing a non-oxidizing agent to exhaust the oxidizinvr atmosphere from said chamber after it has received the metal and before it delivers to the retort.

3. In an annealing furnace, the combination of a retort and a preliminary charging chamber therefor, having a movable gate, and means controlled b the movable gate for introducing a non-oxidizing agent to said chamber to expel the oxidizing atmosphere from said chamber after it has received the metal and before it delivers to the retort.

4. In an annealing furnace, the combination of a retort and a preliminary charging chamber therefor, having a movable gate, means for introducing a non-oxidizing agent to said chamber to expel the oxidizing atmosphere from said chamber after it has received the metal and before it delivers to the retort, and a conveyer controlled by the movable gate.

. 5. In an annealing furnace, the combina.

tion of a retort and a preliminary charging chamber therefor, having a pair of movable gates, means for introducing a non-oxidizing agent to said chamber to expel the oxidizing chamber one from the outside atmosphere` and the other from the retort, means for introducing a non oxidizing agent into the chamber and means Whereby`the closing of the chamber from the outside atmosphere causes the introduction of said agent.

7. In an annealin furnace, the combination of a retort, a pre iminary char `ng chamber therefor, a pair of gates for c osing said chamber, one from the outside atmosphere and the other from the retort, means for introducing a nonoxidizing a ent into the chamber and means Whereb t e opening of the chamber to the retort cause the locking of the other gate.

8. In an annealin furnace, the combineautomatic means whereby when either gate tion of a retort, a pre 'minar charging chamis opened the other gate 1s locked closed. ber, a conveyor operating tlyierein for receiv- 10. In an annealing furnace, the combinaing the metal to be annealed and for delivertion of a retort, a prellminary chargin chammg the vsame to the retort, a palr of gates for ber, a pneumatically operated gate or clos- 20 closing said chamber, one from the outside ing the chamber from the outside atmosatmosphere and the other from the retort, phere, an inlet conductor and an outlet conand means whereby 'the opening of th`e gate ductor communicating With said chamber, to the retort controls the operation of the valves for controlling said conductors, and

conveyer. automatic means operated by the gate actu- 25 9. In an annealin lfurnace, the combinaating mechanism for controlling the valves.

tion of a retort, a pre iminary charging cham- HUGH L. THOMPSON.

ber, a pair of pneumaticallyoperatedgates, Witnesses:

one for closing the chamber from the outside EUGENE ZIEGLER,

^ atmosphere. the other `from the retort and MAE IIOFMANN. 

